Magnetic core wiring apparatus



Jan. 17, 1967 A. T. DORN MAGNETIC GORE WIRING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D90. 10, 1964 ALAN T. DOQ/k/ ATTORNEV Jan. 17, 1967 A. T. DORN MAGNETIC GORE WIRING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D630. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. ALAN T. DOE/V iii ATTORNEV United States Patent Ofilice 3,298,88 Fatentecl Jan. 17, 1967 3,298,088 MAGNETIC CORE WIRING APPARATUS Alan T. Dorn, Roslyn Pa assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,043 8 Claims. (Cl. 29203) This invention relates to apparatus for use in assembling electronic equipment utilizing toroidal magnetic cores, and, particularly, to such apparatus for supporting toroidal cores during a core-wiring operation.

One type of electronic equipment which may be prepared with-the apparatus of the invention is known as a rope memory. A rope memory comprises a series of magnetic cores through which a large number of wires are selectively threaded, with each wire passing through selected ones of the cores. In such an operation, the handling of the cores as they are wired is a major problem, and, up to the present time, no completely satisfactory apparatus has been devised to solve this problem.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention concern the provision of new and improved apparatus for handling large numbers of toroidal cores and for supporting them while they are wired to form a rope memory.

Briefly, the apparatus of the invention comprises a fixed frame within which is supported a vertically movable frame. The fixed frame and movable frame have a plurality of aligned apertures in which are positioned core holders which are adapted to be moved vertically up and down by means of the movable frame. Auxiliary coreselecting means is fixed in position in the path of movement of the core holders so that selective vertical displacement of the core holders and the cores held thereby can be achieved. The cores are thus selectively displaced to facilitate the threading of wires therethrough. The auxiliary core-selecting means is adjustable so that different groups of cores can be displaced at different times for separate wiring operations.

The invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1. showing the apparatus at one stagein its operation;

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus of FIG. 2 at another stage in its operation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of the invention in one stage of operation.

The apparatus of the invention It) includes a stationary horizontal base plate 16, to which are secured a pair of spaced'apart upstanding side support walls 20 and 22. A pair of vertical guide posts 28 are secured to the base plate 16 in alignment with the side walls 20 and 22 on approximately the longitudinal axis of the base plate.

The apparatus also includes a vertically movable frame 34 which comprises a horizontal base plate 38, a pair of spaced-apart vertical side walls 42 and 44, and a top plate 48, which are secured together to provide a rigid assembly. The top plate 48 is provided with a plurality of parallel horizontal slots 50 extending from front to back with a plurality of vertical apertures 52 extending from the bases of the slots downwardly through the thickness of the top plate. Any number of slots 50 and apertures 52 may be provided as required.

A cover plate 53 is positioned over the top plate, the cover plate being provided with apertures 54 vertically aligned with the apertures 52 in the top plate and of substantially the same size. In addition, a row of wire-guide pins 55 is provided along each of the opposed edges of the top plate, with the pins in one row being aligned with the corresponding pins in the other row. Each pair of aligned pins is also aligned with a row of apertures in the top plate and cover plate.

Four vertical posts 56 are secured to the horizontal base plate '16 at approximately the four corners of a rectangle. The upper ends of the vertical posts are slidably inserted in suitable apertures (not shown) in the horizontal top plate 48 of the vertically movable frame 34 so that the frame is slidable thereon.

An intermediate horizontal support plate 60 is positioned between the horizontal base plate 33 and top plate 48 of the movable frame 34 and is secured to the vertical posts 56, in any suitable manner, so that it is fixed in position. This support plate 60 carries a generally L-shaped support ledge 62 which extends along both sides and the rear edge of the support plate 60. The ledge 62 is provided for receiving and supporting a core-selecting plate to be described. A compression spring 64 is mounted on each vertical post 56 between the fixed horizontal plate 60 and the top plate 48 of the movable frame 34.

The above-mentioned core-selecting plate comprises a thin apertured plate which has rows and columns of apertures 74 corresponding in number and position to the apertures in the .plate 48 and cover plate 53. The apertured plate 70 is adapted to be seated on the guide rails 62 parallel to the plate 48 with its apertures vertically aligned with the corresponding apertures in that plate. The plate 70 may be provided with an operating handle 71, if desired.

A horizontal drive shaft which carries an operating handle 81 is rotatably supported in the side walls 20 and 22 and in the movable frame 34. Suitable cutouts 86 are provided in walls 4 2 and 44 to allow the frame 34 to move vertically without striking the shaft 80. A pair of generally circular earns 90 are secured to the horizontal shaft 80 inwardly of the side walls 42 and 44. The cams bear against rotatable wheels 94 secured to side walls of the movable frame. The earns 90 have a smoothly curved surface of increasing diameter shaped to bear against the wheels 94 and drive the movable. frame 34 vertically up and down.

Means are provided for supporting on top plate 48, toroidal cores to be threaded by wires. This means cornprises a rod-shaped holder 16! slidably positioned in each aperture 52 and 54 in the plates 48 and 53, respectively. Each holder is held in place in the slot 50 by a pin 101. Each rod-shaped holder (FIG. 4-) includes an enlarged lower end 10-3 which has a flat face and is of greater diameter than the rest of the holder which extends upwardly therefrom. A spring 114 is mounted on the holder and is held in place between the enlarged end 108 and the lower surface of the top plate 48. The upper end of the core holder .100, which extends above the fixed top cover plate 5 3, is provided with a slot which is d fined by walls 124 and 126 and is adapted to receive a core-holding fixture 128. The walls 124 and 126 which define the slot 120 are provided with horizontally aligned apertures 130, and the associated fixture 1228 has an aperture 134 aligned with apertures 130. Generally, securing means 135, such as a pin or a flexible wire or the like, is threaded through the apertures 130 and 134 to hold the fixture 1.28 in place in its rod-shaped holder 100.

The core-holding fixture 128 (FIG. 5) may be generally rectangular in shape and may be of metal, insulating material, or the like. The fixture .128 includes an aperture 138 which is generally in the form of an hour glass and includes one portion, the lower portion 148, which is adapted to receive a toroidal core 144 and a second upper portion 142 which is adapted to receive wires which are intended not to pass through the associated core during a wire threading process.

In using the apparatus of the invention, a rod-shaped holder carrying a core holding fixture 128, which in turn carries a core 144, is positioned in each of the aligned apertures in plates 48 and 53. The apertured plate 70 is removed from the apparatus 10, and a plug or pin 152 is inserted in each aperture 74 aligned with each core (above it), through which the first wire 160 is to be threaded. The apertured plate 70 is then re-inserted in the apparatus 10, and the horizontal shaft 80 is rotated. As this shaft rotates, cams 90 travel along the wheels 94 and thus drive the movable frame 34 and top plate 48 downwardly. As the plate 48 moves downwardly, the core holders 100 move downwardly, and those which are aligned with pins 152 in the apertured plate 70 are prevented by these pins from being lowered the same distance as core holders which are not aligned with pins 152. The latter core holders are lowered sufiiciently so that the selected core holders and the cores held thereby are easily accessible and extend a considerable distance above the other core holders in the plate 48. It can be seen that the cores 144 in the raised fixtures 128 are horizontally aligned with the upper apertures 142 in the other lowered core holders. The first wire 160 now may be easily threaded along each row of core holders around the guide pins 55 and through the upstanding cores. The wire automatically and correctly threads either a core or an aperture in a fixture. After the first wire has been threaded through the rows of cores, the drive shaft 80 is rotated to raise the top plate 48. The apertured plate 70 is then removed, and a new set of pins 152 is provided corresponding in position to the cores through which the second wire is to be threaded. The apertured plate 70 is then re-inserted, the shaft 80 is rotated, and the selected core holders and cores remain at a higher level than the other non-selected cores. The second wire is then threaded through rows of cores and around the guide pins 55.

This operation is repeated for as many wires as are to be threaded through the cores.

What is claimed is:

1. Work processing apparatus comprising a first apertured plate oriented horizontally and fixed in place,

the apertures in said plate being adapted to be provided with removable plugs according to a predetermined pattern,

a second apertured plate mounted for vertical movement above said first apertured plate,

a plurality of elongated workholders mounted in the apertures in said second apertured plate, said workholders thus being aligned with said apertures in said first plate,

and driving means coupled to said second apertured plate for driving it vertically up and down to bring said workholders into and out of operative relation with said first apertured plate and with a pattern of plugs which may be carried thereby, the plugs serving to limit the downward movement of selected workholders aligned therewith so that some workholders are driven downwardly to a greater extent than 4% others, apparatus carried by said selected workholders thus being made accessible for processing.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said driving means includes a cam, with a cam follower being provided on said second apertured plate.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said second apertured plate is secured to a pair of spaced-apart Walls and said driving means includes a shaft which carries cam means and said walls carry cam follower means adapted to be acted on by said cam means to drive said second plate up and down.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said workholders are oriented vertically in said second plate and are held in place by a bias spring.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said second plate has top and bottom surfaces and said workholders extend vertically above and below said top and bottom surfaces,

each workholder having an enlarged lower end adapted to contact a plug when present in an aligned aperture in said first plate,

each Workholder having an upper end adapted to receive a work piece which is positioned in accordance with work to be performed when said second plate is moved downwardly by said driving means.

6. Work processing apparatus including a first apertured plate oriented horizontally and fixed in place, said first plate carrying a plurality of apertures arrayed in rows and columns,

the apertures in said first plate being adapted to be provided with removable plugs according to a predetermined pattern,

a frame including a second apertured plate oriented horizontally and mounted for vertical up and down movement above said first apertured plate, said second plate including a plurality of apertures arrayed in rows and columns and aligned with the apertures in said first plate,

a plurality of elongated workholders positioned in the apertures in said second apertured plate, said workholders thus being aligned with said apertures in said first plate,

two groups of spaced apart pins secured to said second plate with one pin in each group being aligned with a row of apertures, said pins comprising guide means for use in performing work on the workpieces carried by said workholders,

and means coupled to said frame for driving said frame and said second plate vertically up and down to bring said workholders into and out of operative relation with said first apertured plate and with a pattern of plugs which may be carried thereby.

7. Work processing apparatus including a support base carrying a plurality of vertical guide posts,

a first apertured plate oriented horizontally and secured to said guide posts so that it is fixed in place,

the apertures in said plate :being arrayed in rows and columns and adapted to be provided with removable plugs according to a predetermined pattern, said plugs when present extending above the surface of said first plate,

a frame including a second apertured plate horizontally oriialnted and two side walls and an apertured bottom wa said frame being mounted for vertical movement so that said plate moves vertically up and down above said first apertured plate,

a pair of guide pins on said support base extending: through apertures in said bottom Wall of said frame,

a plurality of elongated workholders mounted in the apertures in said second apertured plate, said Workholders being aligned with said apertures in said first plate,

and means coupled to said second apertured plate fo 5 driving it vertically up and down to bring said workholders into and out of operative relation with said first apertured plate and with a pattern of plugs which may be carried thereby.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said driving means includes a drive shaft extending through the side Walls of said frame and oriented parallel to and beneath said first apertured plate, a cam means mounted References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,622 3/1964 Hathaway 269-40 X 3,174,214 3/1965 Davis 29203 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. WORK PROCESSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIRST APERTURED PLATE ORIENTED HORIZONTALLY AND FIXED IN PLACE, THE APERTURES IN SAID PLATE BEING ADAPTED TO BE PROVIDED WITH REMOVABLE PLUGS ACCORDING TO A PREDETERMINED PATTERN, A SECOND APERTURED PLATE MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT ABOVE SAID FIRST APERTURED PLATE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED WORKHOLDERS MOUNTED IN THE APERTURES IN SAID SECOND APERTURED PLATE, SAID WORKHOLDERS THUS BEING ALIGNED WITH SAID APERTURES IN SAID FIRST PLATE, AND DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SECOND APERTURED PLATE FOR DRIVING IT VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN TO BRING SAID WORKHOLDERS INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE RELATION WITH SAID FIRST APERTURED PLATE AND WITH A PATTERN OF PLUGS WHICH MAY BE CARRIED THEREBY, THE PLUGS SERVING TO LIMIT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SELECTED WORKHOLDERS ALIGNED THEREWITH SO THAT SOME WORKHOLDERS ARE DRIVEN DOWNWARDLY TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN OTHERS, APPARATUS CARRIED BY SAID SELECTED WORKHOLDERS THUS BEING MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR PROCESSING. 